Means for preventing injury in case of loom shuttle stoppage



March 7, 1950 F J SULLIVAN ErAL 2,499,887 MEANS FOR PREVENTING INJURY IN CASE OF LOOM SHUTTLE STOPPAGE Filed June 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQRS (LL11 1 F 9,

March 7, 1950 F. J. SULLIVAN ETAL 2,499,837

MEANS FOR PREVENTING INJURY IN CASE; OF LOOM SHUTTLE STOPPAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1948 I l I INVENTORS Patented Mar. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEANS FOR PREVENTING INJURY IN OF LOOM SHUTTLE SIOPPAGE case Francis J. Sullivan, was, and Arthur B. Ab-

bott, Shelton, Conn., alclgnors to Sidney Blumenthal & 00.. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 2, 1948, Serial No. 30.544 18 Claim. (01. 139-341) This invention relates to looms and, more particularly, to electrically actuated means for preventing injury in case of shuttle stoppage, and has for an object to provide a construction in which the failure of a shuttle to enter its box at the end of a flight across the loom through the sheds will set in motion electrically actuated.

mechanism for stopping the loom before the lay can strike the faulty shuttle and cause injury to it and/or the yarn being woven.

I Another objectis to provide such a construe tion which eliminates the-necessity for the usual dagger lifting mechanism associated withthe shuttle boxes.

Another objectis toprovide such a construc tion in which the loom is stopped with a minimum of jar or shock as contrasted with conditions brought about by page. Another object is to provide such a construction in which the: backs of the shuttle boxes do not need to be formed in any particular shape or be provided with any operative parts; with the result that they may be perfectly straight and smooth and thus not only avoid interference'with shuttleflight but actually. serve to guide. the shuttle at v the start of each flight and improve its accuracy.

ing a shuttle box and its associated electric switch for operation by a shuttle; a portion of a shuttle being illustrated as entering the box;

Fig. 4 represents a broken front elevation of the dagger stop assembly; and

' Another object is to provide-such aconstruction in which the number of moving parts on the lay is reduced together with the power required 11 operate the picking motion or mechanism.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which stoppa e of the 100m can be very rapidly accomplished, whereby the speed of shuttle flight may be lessened with a corresponding decrease in the power required for operating the picking mechanism.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which the electric system is normally set .to stop the loom and in which stoppage is prevented by the proper entry of the shuttle into their boxes during loom operation.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which the functioning of the electric system does not require the employment of high voltages, whereby the danger of fire and other forms of injury is minimized.

Another object is to provide such a construction which involves reduction in number of parts, simplification in mode of operation, and decrease in power required, whereby economy in both loom manufacture and loom operation is achieved along with smoothness and efficiency in weaving.

A furtherobject is to provide certain improvements in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, whereby the above named and other objects inherent in the invention may be eflectively attained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is at Fig. 5 represents a diagrammatic lay-out of an electronic control system.

It has been common practice in loom .constru'ction'to'provide means for stopping the loom in theevent that a shuttle fails properly to enter its box, in order to prevent injury to the shuttle and/or yarn being woven through the striking of the former by the lay. This means has usually included one or morer'novable daggers carried by the lay in position to contact one or more blocks fixed to the 1oom'frame,-which contact .serves to stop the loom by what is commonly referred'to as a bang cit- To avoid this stoppage --while the loom is operatirg satisfactor ly and the shuttles are properly entering their boxes, mechanism, generallyv including bell cranks and. rods, has been associated with the back of one or'more shllttle boxes, which'rnechanlsm lifts tha g e or daggers on each forward or beat-up strok -of the lay when the shuttles are properly entcring their boxes. It will be clear that the arrangement just described necessarily entals a certain amount of complication in loom structure and need for additional power in operation as well as increasing the probability of failure or faulty operation due to the increase in number of moving parts. The present inventon is calculated to overcome these existing disadvantages by eliminating the necessity for movable daggers and mechanism for moving them, whereby there is obtained a substantial advance in loom construction and operation, including the hereinabove rec'ted objects of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, one of the lay legs is denoted by I and it is mounted as usual on a rock shaft 2 which has journals (not shown) in the lower part of the loom frame and is arranged to be oscillated by a pitman 3, which is pinned to the lay leg at A and to a crank 5 at 6, which crank is rotated by a motor gear 1 that meshes with a gear 8 which is fixed to the crank.

Fastened to and projecting laterally from the amass? 3 forward side of the leg is a fixed dagger 3 that is positioned to enter an opening or window it), which is formed in a small dagger stop casing that is secured in any suitable manner, as by-bolts- (not shown), to an adjacent side member ll of 1 the loom frame. The said casing is preferably rectangular in horizontal cross section (see Figs. 1, 2 and 4) and comprises a vertical frame member [2 to the rear of which are suitably secured a pair of horizontally disposed cross members l3, l4. The front or face of member I2 is centrally cut away or channelled so as to form side ridges l6, ii, to which is afllxed, as by screws i6, a face plate l1. Sides, one of which is shown and marked 83, are fastened, as by screws (not shown) to the frame members l2, l3, l4; a back It is similarly secured to the sides and the cross member I4, and a bottom 20 is likewise fastened to the face plate H, the sides and the back.

In the vertical slot or space enclosed by the ridges i5, i6, and face plate I1, is slidably fitted a shutter 2| which is of such" size that it can close the window ID as illustrated in Fig. 2 or leave the same open by dropping to a lower position as illustrated in Fig. 1. A downwardly extending tall 22 is secured to the bottom of shutter 2| and extends below the member [2 into the body of the casing which is enlarged so as to accommodate a solenoid 23, that may be of standard type, which is suitably mounted therein. The lower end of tail 22 is bent at right angles to its main portion and is fastened, as indicated at 24, to the core of the solenoid. From the immediately foregoing description lt will be clear that, when the solenoid 23 is not energized, the shutter 2| and its tall 22 will be permitted to drop in the casing to the position illustrated in Fig. .1 where it is supported by pins 26 (see Fig. 4); this position of the said parts permitting the fixed dagger 9 to pass over the shutter and enter the casing on each forward stroke of the lay, as shown in Fig. 1. When, on the other hand, the solenoid is energized, it will lift the tail 22 and hence the shutter 2| to the position shown in Fig. 2 wherein the latter closes the window I and prevents the entry of the dagger 9 into the casing. This condition is caused by the failure of a shuttle properly to enter its box and effects stoppage of the loom in a manner which will now be described.

The mi dle shaft 26 of the loom, which is mounted as usual in suitable bearings in the loom frame (not shown), i located below the crank shaft 21 and is driven at half the speed of the crank shaft by intermeshing. gears 8, 28. On the said middle shaft is fixed, as by a key 29, a cam 30, which is formed on its periphery with a nose switch actuator 33 is slidably mounted in a support 34 that is carried by' the loom frame in any.

is normally urged against the actuator 33 so as to hold-the cam roller 35 incontact with the cam. Electric contacts 38, 33, are positioned at opposite sides of switch 36 and the relative arrangement of the parts just described is such that the switch will be pressed against contact 38 when i the cam roller is riding on cam nose 3|, as shown in Fig. 2, while the switch 36 will be permitted tospring press itself against contact 39 when the cam roller enters the cam depression 32. when the cam roller is riding on the cam periphery intermediate nose 3| and depression 32, the switch 36 is free of both contacts 38 and 39, as illustrated in Fig. l.

The contact 36 is connected by a conducting wire 40 with one switch contact 4| that is associated with one shuttle box of a double shuttle pile loom, e. g., the lower right hand box; while a branch wire 42 also connects contact 38 with one switch contact 43 associated with the upper right hand shuttle box. Contact 33 is similarly connected by a conducting wire 44 with one switch contact 45 associated with the lower left hand shuttle box and by a branch wire 46 with one switch contact 41 associated with the upper left hand box. A current supply wire 48 leads from terminal 49 of a suitable source, such as a 220 volt A. C. commercial line, to the other switch contact 56 of the lower left hand shuttle box, and by a branch wire 6| to the other switch contact 52 of the upper left hand box; while a second branch wire 53 connects wire 48 with the other switch contact 64 of the lower right hand box and, by its own branch wire 65, with the other switch contact 56 of the upper right hand box.

Cam switch 36 is connected by a conducting wire 51 and branch wires 68, 69, 60, with one terminal of solenoids 23, 23, which are positioned in casings, as hereinabove described, at opposite sides of the loom; and also with one terminal of a control relay 6|; while conducting wire 62 and branch wires 63, 64, connect the other terminal 65 of the source of current supply to the other terminals of solenoids 23, 23, and relay 6|. A motor control switch having contacts 66 and 61, which are normally urged into closed position as by having one or both composed of spring metal, are mounted on any convenient support associated with the loom in operative relationship with relay 6| so that energizing of the latter will draw contact 6'! toward it and open the switch; and conducting wires 68 and 69 lead from the contacts 66 and 61 and connect them in series with terminals 76 and 16 of the motor contactor coil; whereby the opening of the switch contacts 66, 61, will break the motors operating circuit and bring it to a stop.

Fig. 3 illustrates in detail one of the pairs of switch contacts which are associated with each of the shuttle boxes, as previously described, together with the mechanism for separating the contacts to open the switch when a shuttle properly enters its box. Assuming that the switch here shown is the one associated with the upper right hand shuttle box, the contacts are de- 3| and-an oppositely disposed depression 32. A

noted by 43 and 56, while the wires leading from them are marked 42 and 55, as hereinabove set forth. The said contacts are mounted in a lug H which is affixed, in any suitable manner, to the shuttle box 12, one or both of the said contacts being composed of spring metal so as normally to urge them into closed position. A switchactuator I3 is also mounted in lug 'II and is preferably composed of spring metal to normally hold it in an inoperative position. The said actuator carries a round ended pin 14 which projects through an opening 15 in a wall of the shuttle box so as to lie in the path of an incoming shuttle I6; and the opposite side of the actuator is provided with a stud 11 which is positioned so as to strike switch contact 56 when the actuator is moved away from the shuttle box as a result ofimpingement of the incoming shuttle I6 upon the pin II, which action will separate contact 66 from contact 43 and thus break the electrical circuit at that point.

Referring now to the, operation of this invention, it should be noted that the switch contacts associated with all the shuttle boxes are normally closed, as is also the control switch associated with relay 6|; while the cam operated switch composed of the elements 36, 36 and 30 is open except when cam roller is riding on nose 3| or in depression 32 as hereinabove explained, the middle shaft 26 is driven from the crank shaft 21 at one half the speed of the latter and the middle shaft carries on each end the usual picking ball (not shown) for operating the picker sticks (not shown) which drive the shuttles back and forth across the loom through the warp yarn sheds, all as is well understood in the weaving industry. Thus it will be clear that each picking ball operates once for each two forward movements of the lay.

Assuming the parts to be in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, with the lay leg I and its crank. operating mechanism at the beginning of a forward stroke of the lay as represented in broken lines, the rotation of crank shaft 21 will swing the lay forwardly (i. e., to the left in Fig. 1) and,

at the limit of its forward stroke, the fixed dagger 9 will pass through the window I if the shutter 2| is in its lower position shown in Fig. 1. Just prior to the attainment of this condition, the cam roller 35 will ride up on cam nose 3| and close switch36against contact 33 so as to provide for completing the electric circuit through the right hand switch boxes, the solenoids, the relay and the motor control switch, with the result of raising the shutter 2| into the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to prevent any further forward movement of the lay due to the contact of the fixed dagger 3 with the shutter, and with the further result of stopping the motor. However, as long as the shuttles are both operating correctly and properly entering their boxes, the results just mentioned will not be effected because the entry of the shuttles into the right hand boxes will open the switches associated with the boxes, thus making breaks in the electric circuit and preventing enersization of the solenoids or thereiay. But, if either shuttle fails properly to enter its box the switch associated with that box will remain closed; the electric circuit will be completed; and the solenoids and relay will be energized with the result previously mentioned. It will be understood that the entry of the cam roller 35 into the cam depression 32 will have the same effect as the riding of the roller up on nose 3I because the cam switch 36 will close with contact 39 when roller 35 is in depression 32, and complete the circuit through the left hand boxes.

The parts are timed so that the shuttles in normal flight enter their boxes and open the switches associated with their boxes immediately before the cam switch 36 is closed with either contact 30 or 39, so that the closing of the last named switch will just fail of completing the electric circuit and stopping the loom as long as shuttle operation is correct; but failure of either of the shuttles properly to complete its flight as, for instance, by becoming lodged in the sheds, will bring the electrically controlled mechanism into position to not only stop the loom but also to restrain the forward movement of the lay through contact of the fixed dagger with the shutter II and thus prevent iniury by the lay to the faulty shuttle or to the yarn being woven. It should also be noted that the timing of the operations is such that the cam roller 36 rides up on nose 3| immediately after the picker mechanism has driven the shuttles toward the right hand boxes. and that the said roller drops into depression 32 immediately after the shuttles are driven in the opposite direction; so that the electric circuit is ready to be operatively completed through the switches on the boxes toward which 1 the shuttles are alternately traveling in the event of failure of either shuttle properly to enter its box. The shuttles open the box switches as they enter their boxes almost instantly thereafter the cam switch closes, but the operation is preferably so adjusted that the cam switch closes as late as can be permitted consistent with proper functioning of the shutter 2|, thus allowing as much time as possible for a comparatively slow shuttle to enter its box, open the box switch, and prevent loom stoppage. Hence, it is evident that the faster the operation of a control system designed to stop the loom in the event of shuttle failure, the greater is the permissible reduction in shuttle speed with the consequent saving in power required for any given loom speed. The electric system embodied in the present invention notably excels in this desirable respect as contrasted with the mechanical arrangements commonly employed.

While we have shown and described particularly only a single lay arm and its associated parts, including the stop casing with its shutter and solenoid; it may be noted that we prefer to provide the said arrangement in connection with the lay arms at both sides of the loom.

Fig. 5 shows diagrammatically a modified form of control which may be characterized as electronic and is susceptible of more accurate control in operation than the electric control shown in Fig. l and hereinabove described, though it operates in a similar manner.

In this form the contacts for the upper right hand shuttle box are marked 18, 19, the former being grounded by a wire at 3|, and the latter being connected by a shielded wire 82 with another shielded wire 83 that leads to contact 84 which corresponds with contact 38 of the middle shaft cam switch shown in Fig. 1. Contact 85 of the lower right hand box is grounded by a wire 06 at 81, while the other contact 80 of the said box is connected to wire 83. The contacts of the upper left hand shuttle box are denoted by 89, 90, and a wire SI grounds the former at 92 while a shielded wire 93 connects the latter with another shielded wire 04 that'runs to contact 95 which corresponds with contact 39 of the middle shaft cam switch in Fig. 1. Contact of the lower lefthand box is grounded by wire 01. at 92, and contact 98 of the said box is connected to wire 04.

Switch 00 which corresponds with switch 36 of Fig. 1 is connected by a shielded wire I00 with a resistor Ilil that may be of one hundred thousand ohms resistance capacity and also with another similar resistor I02. A source of bias current which may be of minus twelve volt capacity is denoted by I03 and it is connected by a wire I06 with resistor I02 and by wire I05 with rid leak and condenser I06 of which the resistor may be similar to resistors IM and I02 while the condenser may have a capacity of fifty microfarad: the said grid leak and condenser, in turn, being connected by wire III! with a wire I08 that is grounded at I 09 and is also connected with a tube I III that is of the tetrode type with indirectly One grid of the tube is contakes the place of relay SI of the form shown in v Fig. 1, and is, in turn, connected with a source of ower II! that may be a two hundred volt direct current line. The contacts of the control switch associated with the relay are marked II5, I I6, contact I'I5 being connected by wire I H with two solenoids H8, H8, which correspond with the solenoid 24 of Fig. 1; while contact H6 is normally closed with switch H9, which latter and the solenoids I I8, I I8, are connected by wires I20 and HI, respectively, with the terminals I22 and I23 of a source of electric current which may be a two hundred twenty volt alternating current line. Contact IIS and terminal I23 of the alternating current source are connected with the motor holding circuit which is shown diagrammatically and without detail in broken lines and includes the main contactors, denoted generally by I24 and the holding coil I25.

As this electronic control illustrated in Fig. 5 operates in the loom in the same general manner as the electric control shown in Fig. 1, there seems no occasion here to set forth at length its mode of operation; but it should be stated that, when a shuttle fails properly to enter its box and open the switch associated therewith, the grid of tube III) is short circuited to the ground at I09, which short circuiting fires the tube and it, in turn, energizes relay '3 and causes the latter to move control switch II9 from contact II6 to contact I I5. This breaks the motor holding coil circuit, releases the main contactors I24, and stops the motor; while the closing of switch II 9 with contact II5 will energize solenoids II'8, Ha -and cause shutters 2-I, 2|, at the op osite sides of the loom to close the windows It), III, and arrest the forward movement of the lay by contact of daggers 9, 9, with the said shutters, to avoid injury to the faulty shuttle and yarn being woven, as heretofore explained. As long as both shuttles properly enter their boxes and open the switches associated therewith, the closing of the middle shaft cam switch 99 with either contact 84 or 95 will not serve to ground the tube grid, the bias current to the tube will remain in effect and the loom will continue to run.

It should be noted that this system has the advantage of eliminating the use of dangerously high voltages in connection with the shuttle boxes,

claims or be required by disclosures of the prior art.

What we claim is:

1. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay

mechanism, electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, and electrically controlled mechanical means for also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said last named means including a dagger carried by the lay and an electrically actuated element movable into and out of the path of travel of the In the drawings and foregoing description we a have set forth the invention as applied to a double shuttle pile or plush loom; but it should be noted that the invention is equally applicable to single shuttle looms.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides for attaining the objects hereinbefore recited, and we desire it to be understood that various changes maybe resorted to in the form, construction, material and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; and hence we do not intend to be limited to details herein shown or described except as they may be included in the dagger.

2. A loom comprising, a. frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, and electrically controlled mechanical means for also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said last named means including a dagger carried by the lay and an electrically actuated element normally positioned out of the path of travel of the dagger but adapted to be moved into said path for contact by the dagger.

3. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, and electrically controlled mechanical means for also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said last named means including a dagger carried by the lay, a member mounted on the loom frame and provided with an opening in the path of movement of the dagger, an element slidably mounted adjacent said opening and of such size as to be adapted to obstruct the passage of the dagger therethrough, and electrically actuated means for sliding said element to obstruct the opening in said member and arrest the forward movement of the dagger.

4. A loom comprising, av frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, and electrically controlled mechanical means for also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said last named means including a dagger carried by the lay, a casing mounted on the loom fram and having an open window in the path of movement of the dagger, a shutter movably mounted in the casing and of such size as to be adapted to obstruct the passage of the dagger through the window, a solenoid positioned in the casing and mechanically connected with the shutter, and means for energizing the solenoid to cause it to move th shutter and obstruct the window to arrest the movement of the dagger.

5. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, and electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, said electric means including a source of electric current, a motor electricallyconnected thereto, a switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be operated when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting 9 wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing the current circuit through said contacts and said shuttle box switches and breaking the current circuit to the motor.

6. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, said electric means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be operated when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing said member with said contacts.

7. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, and electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails'properly to enter its box, said electric means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be operated when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, a motor current control in electrically operative connection with said member, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing said member with said contacts and causing it to actuate said motor current control to break the current circuit to the motor.

8. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, and electrically operated means activated when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box for stopping the loom and also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said means includin a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a switch associated with each shuttle box in position to-be operated when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, a motor current control, a unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said control, a mechanical element arranged to be brought into the path of forward movement of the lay to arrest it, another unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said mechanical element, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for aldriving a shuttle to and from the boxes, and

.10 ternately closing said switch member with said contacts and causing it to energize said motor control unit and said unit which operates said mechanical element.

9. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, and electrically operated means activated when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box for stopping the loom and also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be operated when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, a motor current control, a relay unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said control, a mechanical element arranged to be brought into the path of forward movement of the lay to arrest it, a solenoid unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said mechanical element, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing said switch member with said contacts and causing it to energize said relay unit and solenoid unit.

10. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, and electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, said electric means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a normally closed switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be opened when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing the current circuit through said contacts and said shuttle box switches and breaking the current circuit to the motor.

11. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, and electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, said electric means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a normally closed switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be opened when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing said member with said contacts.

12. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, and electric means for stopping the loom when the shuttle f ails 11 properly to enter its box, said electric means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a normally closed switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be opened when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of th other shuttle box, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, a motor current control in electrically operative connection with said member, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing said member with said contacts and causing it to actuate said motor current control to break the current circuit to the motor.

13. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttl to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, and electrically operated means activated when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box for stopping the loom and also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a normally closed switch associated with each shuttl box in position to be opened when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttlebox, a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, a motor current control, a unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said control, a mechanical element arranged to be brought into the path of forward movement of the lay to arrest it, another unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said mechanical element, and means actuated in .timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing-said switch member with said contacts and causing it to energize said motor control unit and said unit which operates said mechanical element.

14. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, and electrically operated means activated when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box for stopping the loom and also stopping the lay mechanism when the lay has partly completed a forward stroke, said means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a normally closed switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be opened when the shuttle enters the box, another switch having a pair of contacts, conducting wires connecting one of said contacts with the switch of one shuttle box and the other of said contacts with the switch of the other shuttle box,.a switch member located for cooperation with said contacts and connected with said source of current, a motor current control, a relay unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said control, a mechanical element arranged to be brought into the path of forward movement of the lay to arrest it, a solenoid unit in electrical connection with said switch member for operating said mechanical element, and means actuated in timed relationship with the picking mechanism for alternately closing said switch member 12 with said contacts relay unit and solenoid unit.

15. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mecha-' nism, electronic means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, and electronically controlled means for also stopping the lay mechanism, said last named means including a solenoid, a lay arresting device operatively associated with the solenoid, and means for energizing the solenoid.

16. A loom comprising, a frame, a shuttle box at each side thereof, picking mechanism for driving a shuttle to and from the boxes, lay mechanism, electronic means for stopping the loom when the shuttle fails properly to enter its box, and electronically controlledv means for also stopping the lay mechanism, said last named means including a solenoid, a layarresting device operatively associated with the solenoid, an electron tube operatively connected with the solenoid, a

sourceof bias current for the tube, and means when a shuttle fails properly to enter its box, said means including a sourc of electric current, a motor electrically .connected thereto, a switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be operated when the shuttle enters the box, a relay, a source of electric current for the relay, a motor current control switch operativel associated with the relay, a solenoid electrically connected with the motor current control switch, a

lay arresting device operatively associated with the solenoid, an electron tube electrically connected with the relay, a source of bias current-for the tube, and means for short circuitingthe tube to energize the relay and solenoid. J

18. In a loom, electronic means for, stopping the loom and arresting the forward lay motion when a shuttle fails properly to enter its box, said means including a source of electric current, a motor electrically connected thereto, a normally closed switch associated with each shuttle box in position to be opened when the shuttle enters the box, a relay, a source of electric current for the relay, a motor current control switch operatively associated with the relay, a solenoid electrically connected with the motor current control switch, a lay arresting device operatively associated with the solenoid, an electron tube electrically connected with the relay, a source of bias current for the tube, and means for short circuiting the tube to energize the relay, actuate the motor current control switch to break the motor current circuit and energize the solenoid to activate the lay arresting device.

FRANCIS J. SULLIVAN. ARTHUR R. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

. UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Sepavich Nov. 5, 1946 andcausing it to energize said 7 

